Equity Analyst, LightStream Research

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

Equity Analyst

Long-Short Analysis on Japan, Asia and the World

LightStream Research

LightStream conducts quantitatively rigorous and data-driven analysis with a focus on Japan and Asia.

We consistently cover the Tech, Consumer and Industrial sectors, and provide ECM and Events coverage more broadly.

We supplement traditional qualitative insights from company relationships with a robust quantitative foundation that examines as much historical data as is available.
We further refine the accuracy of our insights and calls through the use of alternative data to flesh out current trends, and through a valuation framework that emphasises non-superficial peer group selection and a proper attempt to understand the metrics and changes that have driven security valuations in the past.

Equity Bottom-Up

<p>Today, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/base-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28353:1" rel="noopener">BASE Inc (4477 JP)</a> conducted its planned 1:5 stock split, couple of days ahead of the schedule. The split was conducted to increase the liquidity of Base Inc shares via lowering the minimum investment amount from around ¥800,000 to ¥150,000. Nonetheless, the company’s share price is down 6% from yesterday’s close price on a split adjusted basis, compared to a daily price performance of -1.2% for the Topix IT &amp; Services sector index.</p>

Today, BASE Inc (4477 JP) conducted its planned 1:5 stock split, couple of days ahead of the schedule. The split was conducted to increase the liquidity of Base Inc shares via lowering the minimum investment amount from around ¥800,000 to ¥150,000. Nonetheless, the company’s share price is down 6% from yesterday’s close price on a split adjusted basis, compared to a daily price performance of -1.2% for the Topix IT &amp; Services sector index.

Base Inc: Splits Shares & Institutional Investors Are Taking Profits Amidst Slowing Growth

Index Rebal Trades & Special Situations, Quiddity Advisors

Janaghan Jeyakumar, CFA

Index Rebal Trades & Special Situations

Quiddity Advisors

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Event-Driven

<p>During the month of February 2021, one of the most anticipated TOPIX Inclusion candidates, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/toshiba-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:637:1" rel="noopener">Toshiba Corp (6502 JP)</a> completed its TOPIX Inclusion Event. We also saw four new names announce their TSE1 moves during this month, among which was <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/faithnetwork-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29132:1" rel="noopener">FaithNetwork Co Ltd (3489 JP)</a> the third stock out of the four pre-event bets highlighted in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/topix-inclusion-trade-summary-sep-2020" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:43700" rel="noopener">TOPIX Inclusion Trade Summary: Sep 2020</a>. During this month, we also introduced new pre-event picks to be added to our list in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/topix-inclusions-who-is-ready-3-0" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:48306" rel="noopener">TOPIX Inclusions: Who Is READY? 3.0</a>. </p><p>In this insight, I have provided performance updates for 4 "Live" event stocks which are expected to have Inclusion Events at the end of March/April 2021 and 17 "Post" event stocks that completed their Inclusion Events at the end of January 2021 and February 2021. </p>

During the month of February 2021, one of the most anticipated TOPIX Inclusion candidates, Toshiba Corp (6502 JP) completed its TOPIX Inclusion Event. We also saw four new names announce their TSE1 moves during this month, among which was FaithNetwork Co Ltd (3489 JP) the third stock out of the four pre-event bets highlighted in TOPIX Inclusion Trade Summary: Sep 2020. During this month, we also introduced new pre-event picks to be added to our list in TOPIX Inclusions: Who Is READY? 3.0. In this insight, I have provided performance updates for 4 "Live" event stocks which are expected to have Inclusion Events at the end of March/April 2021 and 17 "Post" event stocks that completed their Inclusion Events at the end of January 2021 and February 2021. 

<div><p>There are currently ~1,500 stocks listed in the Mothers, JASDAQ, and Second Sections of the Tokyo Stock Exchange. As time passes, some of these stocks will "graduate" to the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE1), triggering inclusion into the TOPIX Index causing passive funds tracking TOPIX to buy them on an inclusion event. This presents various trading opportunities in several phases of this event timeline.  </p></div><div>
<p>Being able to identify such candidates at a "Pre-event" phase (before the TSE reassignment is confirmed) can unlock great value for speculative bets. Smartkarma readers familiar with the work of Quiddity Advisors will be able to recall the attractive rewards <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shinnihonseiyaku-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28122:1" rel="noopener">Shinnihonseiyaku Co Ltd (4931 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/gremz-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1858:1" rel="noopener">Gremz Inc (3150 JP)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sansan-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28112:1" rel="noopener">Sansan Inc (4443 JP)</a> were able to deliver in their pre-event phases. </p>
<p>This insight is a continuation of our work in identifying such pre-event candidates.</p>
<p><em>More below the fold</em>  </p>
</div>

There are currently ~1,500 stocks listed in the Mothers, JASDAQ, and Second Sections of the Tokyo Stock Exchange. As time passes, some of these stocks will "graduate" to the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE1), triggering inclusion into the TOPIX Index causing passive funds tracking TOPIX to buy them on an inclusion event. This presents various trading opportunities in several phases of this event timeline.  
Being able to identify such candidates at a "Pre-event" phase (before the TSE reassignment is confirmed) can unlock great value for speculative bets. Smartkarma readers familiar with the work of Quiddity Advisors will be able to recall the attractive rewards Shinnihonseiyaku Co Ltd (4931 JP), Gremz Inc (3150 JP), and Sansan Inc (4443 JP) were able to deliver in their pre-event phases. 
This insight is a continuation of our work in identifying such pre-event candidates.
More below the fold  


Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One, Periscope Analytics

Brian Freitas

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One

Quantitative Analysis

<div><p>The Asia Short Interest weekly looks at moves in market wide short interest and highlights movements in stock specific short interest across Hong Kong, Japan, Korea and Taiwan using the last available data published by the relevant authorities.</p></div><div><p>Hong Kong saw shorts rise on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/wuxi-apptec" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:23679:1" rel="noopener">Wuxi Biologics (2269 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tencent-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26:1" rel="noopener">Tencent Holdings (700 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/postal-savings-bank-of-china" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22848:1" rel="noopener">Postal Savings Bank of China (1658 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/innovent-biologics-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27452:1" rel="noopener">Innovent Biologics Inc (1801 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/jinxin-fertility-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28003:1" rel="noopener">Jinxin Fertility Co Ltd (1951 HK)</a>while there was short covering on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/alibaba-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28434:1" rel="noopener">Alibaba Group (9988 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ping-an-insurance-grp-co-of-china-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12880:1" rel="noopener">Ping An Insurance (H) (2318 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/xiaomi-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24409:1" rel="noopener">Xiaomi Corp (1810 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/meituan-dianping" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26970:1" rel="noopener">Meituan (3690 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/byd-co-ltd-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20962:1" rel="noopener">BYD (1211 HK)</a>. Shorts increased on Financials, while decreasing on Communication Services, Health Care, Financials and Energy, while shorts decreased on Consumer Discretionary, Real Estate and Information Technology.</p></div><div><p>In Japan, stocks that saw the most shorts were <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ryohin-keikaku-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2765:1" rel="noopener">Ryohin Keikaku (7453 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nomura-real-estate-master-fu" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22930:1" rel="noopener">Nomura Real Estate Master Fund, (3462 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/freee-kk" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28424:1" rel="noopener">freee (4478 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/orix-jreit-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:314:1" rel="noopener">Orix JREIT Inc (8954 JP)</a> while shorts decreased on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/itochu-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18448:1" rel="noopener">Itochu Corp (8001 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/trend-micro-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13172:1" rel="noopener">Trend Micro Inc (4704 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/dmg-mori-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:11125:1" rel="noopener">Dmg Mori Co Ltd (6141 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/pharma-foods-international" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10530:1" rel="noopener">Pharma Foods International (2929 JP)</a>. Sectorally, shorts increased in Real Estate and decreased in Industrials.</p></div><div>
<p>In Korea, there was large short covering in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/samsung-electronics-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:191:1" rel="noopener">Samsung Electronics (005930 KS)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/pearl-abyss-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24391:1" rel="noopener">Pearl Abyss (263750 KS)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lotte-chemical-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8757:1" rel="noopener">Lotte Chemical (011170 KS)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kakao-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15002:1" rel="noopener">Kakao Corp (035720 KS)</a>. </p>
<p>Taiwan was closed for the week due to the Lunar New Year.</p>
</div>

The Asia Short Interest weekly looks at moves in market wide short interest and highlights movements in stock specific short interest across Hong Kong, Japan, Korea and Taiwan using the last available data published by the relevant authorities.Hong Kong saw shorts rise on Wuxi Biologics (2269 HK), Tencent Holdings (700 HK), Postal Savings Bank of China (1658 HK), Innovent Biologics Inc (1801 HK) and Jinxin Fertility Co Ltd (1951 HK)while there was short covering on Alibaba Group (9988 HK), Ping An Insurance (H) (2318 HK), Xiaomi Corp (1810 HK), Meituan (3690 HK) and BYD (1211 HK). Shorts increased on Financials, while decreasing on Communication Services, Health Care, Financials and Energy, while shorts decreased on Consumer Discretionary, Real Estate and Information Technology.In Japan, stocks that saw the most shorts were Ryohin Keikaku (7453 JP), Nomura Real Estate Master Fund, (3462 JP), freee (4478 JP) and Orix JREIT Inc (8954 JP) while shorts decreased on Itochu Corp (8001 JP), Trend Micro Inc (4704 JP), Dmg Mori Co Ltd (6141 JP) and Pharma Foods International (2929 JP). Sectorally, shorts increased in Real Estate and decreased in Industrials.
In Korea, there was large short covering in Samsung Electronics (005930 KS), Pearl Abyss (263750 KS), Lotte Chemical (011170 KS) and Kakao Corp (035720 KS). 
Taiwan was closed for the week due to the Lunar New Year.


Asia Short Interest: WuXi Bio, PSBC, Jinxin Fertility, BYD, Ryohin, Freee, Itochu, Pearl Abyss

<p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/base-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28353:1" rel="noopener">BASE Inc (4477 JP)</a> delivered 4Q20 results yesterday with revenue and gross profit growth of 104.8% and 108.4% YoY respectively in 4Q20. However, operating loss expanded 113% YoY to ¥343m due to an increase in promotional expenditure.</p><p>The company’s 2021 revenue guidance of ¥9,750-10,536m (17.6%-27.1% YoY) suggests that BASE Inc’s revenue growth is expected to decelerate rapidly following a temporary increase in 2020 due to COVID. This rapid deceleration in revenue growth is expected while there is a substantial increase in promotional spending. 2021 OP guidance ¥-1,433 to -929m compared to an operating profit of ¥803m in 2020. Therefore, Base Inc’s growth prospects in the domestic market could be somewhat limited and at 15.8x consensus FY+2 EV/Sales (2022 revenue: ¥15,593, 48% YoY), Base Inc appears significantly overvalued. However, the announced five to one stock split effective on 1<sup>st</sup> April 2021 could be a catalyst for a short-term rally. Thus, we would wait for Base Inc’s share price to react to the stock split news before arranging a short position.</p>

BASE Inc (4477 JP) delivered 4Q20 results yesterday with revenue and gross profit growth of 104.8% and 108.4% YoY respectively in 4Q20. However, operating loss expanded 113% YoY to ¥343m due to an increase in promotional expenditure.The company’s 2021 revenue guidance of ¥9,750-10,536m (17.6%-27.1% YoY) suggests that BASE Inc’s revenue growth is expected to decelerate rapidly following a temporary increase in 2020 due to COVID. This rapid deceleration in revenue growth is expected while there is a substantial increase in promotional spending. 2021 OP guidance ¥-1,433 to -929m compared to an operating profit of ¥803m in 2020. Therefore, Base Inc’s growth prospects in the domestic market could be somewhat limited and at 15.8x consensus FY+2 EV/Sales (2022 revenue: ¥15,593, 48% YoY), Base Inc appears significantly overvalued. However, the announced five to one stock split effective on 1st April 2021 could be a catalyst for a short-term rally. Thus, we would wait for Base Inc’s share price to react to the stock split news before arranging a short position.

Japan

BASE, Inc. offers internet based services. The Company provides net shop creation, shopping application development, online payment development, and other services. BASE provides its services throughout Japan.

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BASE Inc (4477 JP)

Base Inc: Splits Shares & Institutional Investors Are Taking Profits Amidst Slowing Growth

Today, BASE Inc conducted its planned 1:5 stock split, couple of days ahead of the schedule. The split was conducted to increase the liquidity of...

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

TOPIX Inclusion Trade Summary: Feb 2021

TOPIX Inclusion summary for Feb 2021 including performance of Feb inclusions, and March-April inclusions from announcement. Change to recommended...

Janaghan Jeyakumar, CFA

TOPIX Inclusions: Who Is READY? 3.0

We update which stocks in MOTHERS/JASDAQ/TSE2 are eligible, ready, or could be ready to move to TSE1 (TOPIX inclusion). The last list at end-Nov...

Janaghan Jeyakumar, CFA

Asia Short Interest: WuXi Bio, PSBC, Jinxin Fertility, BYD, Ryohin, Freee, Itochu, Pearl Abyss

The Insight looks at large short interest movements across HK, Japan, Korea and Taiwan stocks and highlights large increases/decreases in shorts to...

Brian Freitas

Base Inc: Taking a Wrong Turn

We loved Base at the time of the IPO. However, we are considering changing that opinion, as losses are starting to head the wrong way while Base...

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

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